Olivia Leigh Photographie: Fine Art Chicago Wedding Photographer. Available nationwide.
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Olivia Leigh Photographie Blog
Welcome to the all-new Olivia Leigh Photographie blog! Here you can find photos from recent shoots in Chicago and abroad. If you’re looking for a particular wedding or a certain venue, just search below. Use the navigation at the top to see the best work in the portfolio, learn more about services, or send an email to learn more about working together.
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Peoria Wedding : Abby & Michael
- Posted on:
- 21 December 2011
This fall, I trekked down to Peoria to capture the wedding of Abby and Michael in their hometown. Abby and Michael are a couple that come from families that are, to me, Midwestern in the best possible of ways. I think when other people think of smaller towns and the type of people you might find in Illinois, family and friends like those of Abby and Michael are what spring to mind—kind, thoughtful, gracious, and so close to their loved ones. When I arrived at Abby’s childhood home to photograph her getting ready, her family was so hospitable, asking me if I needed anything to eat or drink and just being the most gracious of hosts. The getting ready was full of emotion—I think everyone was crying! You could tell it was such a tight-knit group of family and friends, and the entire day just felt like the oldest of friends having a great time (which is pretty much what it was!).
I had never been to Peoria before and really had no idea what to expect, unsure if our portrait locations would present some challenges or make for lovely images. I was blown away by the natural beauty—I am a city girl through and through I think, but on the way down to the wedding I kept shouting out to my assistant Casey about how gorgeous all the fields were and how it was almost all just too much! It was so so gorgeous. Following the wedding, we took some photos at the ice cream shop that Michael’s dad owns, visited a road that Teddy Roosevelt called the most beautiful drive in America, and then on the way to the reception, I asked Abby and Michael if they wouldn’t mind jumping into a field of soybeans for a few shots. They were so wonderfully game and we created some of my favourite images of the year.
All in all, such a lovely day with truly the sweetest of couples and the nicest of families. Thank you again, you two!
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Martha Stewart Weddings + Cafe Brauer
- Posted on:
- 06 December 2011
When I first started my business, I made a little list of some general goals I had when everything just seemed like a distant dream—“book 20 weddings!” “shoot a destination wedding” “get to know 5 other photographers.” They seem funny now but to me they were big goals. One of the other ones on the list was to be featured in Martha Stewart Weddings. I still feel that Martha Stewart brings such unique and fresh ideas to the table in what can be a very repetitive industry, and they continually feature some of the most lovely photography from photographers that I admire. I photographed Matt and Mindy’s wedding at KAM Israel in Hyde Park and Cafe Brauer in Lincoln Park this summer—Mindy worked tirelessly on all of the incredible details from the day and also had dreams of maybe having it end up in Martha. Needless to say, I was so excited when their gorgeous wedding was featured as a real wedding on their site! Not the magazine, but still such a honor. Many thanks to the incredible team from this day—Anthony Navarro, who was just incredible; Jesse Deckard, one of the most talented designers in the city; and Bethany Fritz, who was an enormous help in photographing the day. You can view the feature here. Below are a few larger photos of some of their beautiful details and some additional photos that were not featured.
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Architectural Artifacts Wedding Photos :: Brett and Julie
- Posted on:
- 27 October 2009
Oh, Brett and Julie. When I met these two, I knew we were a perfect match, and I was so happy that I was selected for their day. Brett and Julie became probably my closest clients of the year, and I am so thankful for being allowed to share in their day and get to know them in a more meaningful way. They were married on the 11th at Architectural Artifacts. I had been wanting to shoot here for a while, and the space definitely exceeded my expectations. Chock full of antiquities and quirky artifacts, the space was ripe with shooting possibilities and created a very engaging atmosphere for guests. The wedding was full of beautiful details that Brett and Julie worked so hard on, and the day was overall a beautiful testament to their relationship and their friends and family. I love so many of these pictures and hope everyone else does too! Thanks also to the always great Frank for doing a great job shooting with me.
Here are some of the vendors that made the day possible!
Venue: Architectural Artifacts // Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie // Caterer: Jordan’s Food of Distinction // Hair/Make Up: Sonia Roselli Esthetique // Dress designer: Liancarlo // Dress store: Dimitra’s // Cake: Amy Beck Cake Design // Bouquets/boutonniere: Asrai Gardens // Cake Topper: Heather Boyd from Etsy // Hairpiece: Doomfox from Etsy // Women’s purses: Red Ruby Rose from Etsy // Groom’s suit: Suit Supply, Amsterdam // Rings: Steve Quick Jeweler // Printed goods and lights by the couple
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- 13
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Mary + Dan :: Fall Chicago Wedding Photos at Volo
- Posted on:
- 30 September 2009
Mary and Dan were married this past weekend at Volo, little wine bar and restaurant, in the charming Roscoe Village neighborhood on the north side of Chicago. I don’t usually post images quite this quickly, but Dan and Mary will be celebrating the wedding with some of Dan’s family back in Vermont this weekend, so I pulled together some of my favourites for them to share. Mary and Dan had a wonderful little wedding—full of great food, delicious wine, close family and friends, and charming details (including a fabulous guestbook using an Underwood typewriter, a delicious torta di ricotta e pere from the charming Pasticceria Natalina, fleur de sel cookies, tea tin centerpieces, and a delightful fascinator). After the wedding, Mary sent me the nicest little email, and I was reminded, as I have been after almost every wedding this season, how lucky I am to share in the lives and celebrations of such truly wonderful people. Mary and Dan both such kind people, and I could take pictures of them for hours. They are just so in love and so palpably committed to each other. I think during the ceremony they didn’t look away from one another and it was simply beautiful to watch. Thank you so much for letting me share in your day, and have a fabulous time in Vermont and Italy!
Venue and food (except the wedding cake): Volo Restaurant and Wine Bar
Dress: Dame Couture
Cake: Pasticceria Natalina
Flowers: Roscoe Blooms
Guitar: Charles Kim
Bride’s rings: Steve Quick Jeweler
Groom’s ring: H. Horwitz, Co.
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- 5
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Julie + Matt’s Chicago Wedding [Part II] :: Portraits + Reception
- Posted on:
- 07 July 2009
Here is part 2 of Julie and Matt’s wedding coverage (sneak / wedding i / film) . This might be the last of the year that I post such extended entries on the blog (busy busy), but this wedding was just too fantastic to skimp! I also tried some different things at this wedding, trying to restrict flash as much as possible (I rarely use it—just for a little fill—but used it on maybe 75 pictures total for the whole day this time). One of the great things about working with a client over the course of a year, as I did with Julie and Matt, is being able to learn more about their aesthetic, making me more comfortable to push myself creatively in different ways that suit their style. Julie loves grain and more of a textural and film aesthetic, so I think approaching it this way helped to realize her goals.
Vendors and venues from this wedding:
Bouquets (bride + bridal party): Hello Darling
Food + Floral Centerpieces at Reception: Fox & Obel
Getting ready: Four Seasons
Ceremony site: St. Clement
Reception site: Cheney Mansion (Oak Park)
Bridal party jewelry and bird decor at guest table, at sweets table + in centerpieces : Designed and made by bride + bride’s sister (contact me for more info if desired)
Cake: Take the Cake
Sweets/Pastries: VanilleAlso, please do not repost photos from this entry elsewhere. Working on something special for this one. Thanks!
One of my favourites.
Macaron towers = my dream.
This little guy was the best.
Lots of lovebirds on the dance floor.
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